Dear Catholic Exchange:
I have a friend, Krista, who is planning to enter the Church this Easter. What a blessing! However, her husband was looking forward to being her sponsor, and she was just told that he was not allowed to be her sponsor. I, myself, entered the Church at Easter 2002, and my husband-to-be (we were engaged at the time — we were married a month after Easter) was my sponsor.
This concerns me as Krista has asked me to be her sponsor, and I do not want to be taking such a privilege away from her husband. Thank you for your advice and help.
Sincerely,
Carrie Schiano
Dear Carrie,
Peace in Christ!
Here are the requirements for being a sponsor. As you can see, being a spouse does not disqualify:
Can. 874 §1. To be permitted to take on the function of sponsor a person must:
• be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function;
• have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;
• be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;
• not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;
• not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
§2. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community is not to participate except together with a Catholic sponsor and then only as a witness of the baptism.
However, if there is a local policy preventing Krista's husband from being her sponsor, I can readily see a few options:
1. Seek to have the policy overturned (most difficult).
2. Petition for a dispensation from the policy (difficult — you have to give a good reason).
3. Find a different sponsor (easier).
4. Not come into the Church at Easter.
You did not say whether they attempted either of the first two. In any case, because Krista has asked you to be sponsor, evidently they have resolved the matter. In other words, you are part of the solution, not the problem.
United in the Faith,
Eric Stoutz
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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